Government of India
About Us
Vision
The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is the Nodal Ministry for matters relating to the Senior Citizens. Constant increase in life expectancy due to improvement in the health care facilities over the years is one of the main reasons for rapid increase in proportion of population of Senior Citizens. As per Census 2011, the total population of Senior Citizens (people aged 60 years and above) is 10.38 crore, of which population of males and females are 5.11 crore and 5.27 crore respectively
The Ministry develops and implements Acts, Policies and Programmes for welfare of Senior Citizens in collaboration with State Governments/ Union Territory Administrations to ensure that Senior Citizens may lead a secured, dignified and productive life.
Senior Citizens Welfare Fund (SCWF)
A Senior Citizens Welfare Fund (SCWF) has been established under the Finance Act, 2015.
The Fund Shall be utilised for such schemes for the promotion of the welfare of Senior citizens in line with the National Policy on Older Persons and the National Policy on Senior Citizens.
The unclaimed money lying under Small Savings Schemes, Employees Provident Fund, Public Provident Fund schemes, Life and non-life insurance schemes or polices maintained by insurance companies and accounts of Coal Mines Provident Fund is transferred into Senior Citizens’ Welfare Fund.
Administration of Fund-
The nodal Ministry for the administration of the Fund shall be the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. Senior Citizens Welfare Fund shall have its secretariat located in the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
The Fund shall be administered by a Committee whose ex-officio chairman shall be Secretary in the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. This Committee shall meet at least twice a year.
National Council
National Council for Older Persons (NCOP) was constituted in 1999 under the Chairpersonship of the Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment to oversee implementation of the Policy and advise the Government in the formulation and implementation of policy and programmes for the aged.
In 2012, the NCOP was reconstituted in order to encourage more participation from every region and renamed as National Council of Senior Citizens (NCSrC). The Council is mandated to meet atleast twice a year.
The mandated of the National Council of Senior Citizens is to advise the Central and State Governments on the entire gamut of issues related to the welfare of senior citizens and enhancement of their quality of life, with special reference to the following:-
- Policies, programmes and legislative measures;
- Promotion of physical and financial security, health a-nd independent and productive living; and
- Awareness generation and community mobilization.